Football News: Review Of The Day 30th April 2018

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Review of the Day

Sunderland Takeover Has Knock-On Effect

The chairman of Eastleigh, Stewart Donald, has put the National League club up for sale due to his involvement in the Sunderland takeover. Donald said: "It is an emotional decision for me and one that I did not expect to have to make. However, with my potential involvement in Sunderland, it is a condition that I must relinquish control of Eastleigh. If the rules were different I would have loved to remain with the club for many years to come."

Nigerian Referee Banned For Match Fixing

CAF (Confederation of African Football) has banned a Nigerian referee for a year for "attempted match manipulation". Joseph Agabor was reported by South African officials in charge of a Confederation Cup match between Nigeria's Plateau United and USM Alger of Algeria on the 7 April. A CAF statement read: "The decision follows investigations conducted and evidence submitted by the South African match officials of the said match, who were contacted by Ogabor to provide "technical assistance" to the Nigerian team. In a related development, the South African Football Association have been ordered to render an apology to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after investigations proved there was no evidence of whatsoever of any official of the NFF regarding an allegation of US$30,000 bribe." Plateau United were also "cautioned to refrain from the practice of hospitality gifts which tend to create wrong impression."

Coleman Given Boot

Sunderland have sacked manager Chris Coleman ahead of a buy-out of the club by an 'international consortium of football investors' which includes Eastleigh chairman Stewart Donald. Despite the arrival of Coleman, who quit his job as Wales manager to take charge of the Black Cats in November, Sunderland have been relegated to League One, their second successive relegation.

Brown Picks Up Second Player Of The Year Award

Celtic captain Scott Brown becomes only the second player to win the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award twice by picking up the award this year. Brown had previously won it in the 2008-9 season. Henrik Larsson, also of Celtic at the time, was the only other player to win it twice, doing so in 1998-99 and 2000-01. Celtic's Kieran Tierney won the young player of the year award for the 3rd year in a row. St Mirren's Jack Ross was awarded the manager of the year award.

Twente Relegated Just 8 Years After Title Win

FC Twente have been relegated from the Netherlands Eredivisie just eight years after they won the league title under Schteve McClaren. That win, in the 2009-10 season, is the only league title in their history and McClaren was unable to replicate his success when he returned in 2012.

Firmino Signs New Long Term Contract

Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino has signed a new long term contract with Liverpool. The 26 year old has been with Liverpool since joining from Hoffenheim in 2015, and is currently having the best season of his career. Firmino said: "It was an easy decision. The club have taken me in in an incredible way. I've grown a lot here with my work with the support of the whole team. I am very, very happy here. Everything fits in the best possible way."

Cavani Breaks Ibrahimovic's PSG Record

Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani has become the club's all-time leading goalscorer with 115 goals after his brace against Guingamp took him past the previous mark of 113 on which he was tied with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Uruguayan has now scored 38 in all competitions this season.

Keita Gets 4th Red Card Of The Season

RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita, who is set to join Liverpool in the summer, has received his fourth red card of the season as RB Leipzig slump following last season's excitement. Last season he picked up no red cards at all.

Germany Lose Stindl

Borussia Moenchengladbach forward Lars Stindl has been ruled out of the summer's World Cup after suffering an ankle injury in the weekend's 1-1 draw with Schalke 04. Stindl will now undergo surgery this week and said in a statement: "It is very bitter to suffer the injury at this stage. Now I cannot help my team in the crucial final matches of the season and my dream of the World Cup is also gone."

Mayoral To Leave Real Madrid

Real Madrid striker Borja Mayoral has admitted he will have to leave Madrid in the summer. Mayoral said: "I'm sure I'll have to leave at the end of the season to find regular playing time somewhere else. At the end of the day, it's been two years now for me without getting many minutes and I think I need them, I'm young and I need to be playing. There are a few games left and I don't know what will happen."

Written by Tris Burke April 30 2018 06:57:43